The onset, course and resolution of depressive symptomatology in chronic hepatitis C patients on pegylated interferon alpha: A 72-week prospective study

Abstract

IntroductionTreatment with pegylated interferon alpha (PEG-IFN-α) in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) is associated with depressive symptomatology more frequently than other inflammatory diseases treated with PEG-IFN-α.ObjectivesTo prospectively evaluate the onset, course and resolution of depressive symptomatology in CHC patients treated with PEG-IFN-α.MethodsHamilton depression rating scale (HAMD) was used to asses depressive symptoms in 103 subjects with CHC prior to initiation of PEG-IFN-α (mean dose 152.6 ± 25.6 mcg; duration of therapy 48 weeks) and at the follow-up visits (4th, 12th, 24th, 48th and 72th week). Control group consisted of 103 CHC subjects, without PEG-IFN-α.ResultsOur results showed a significant increase in HAMD scores as early as in the 4th week of PEG-IFN-a therapy compared to HAMD scores prior to initiation of PEG-IFN-α (38.8% vs. 24.3%). The peak of depressive symptomatology was evidenced in the 12th week (mean HAMD 9.34 ± 6.93), when almost 50% of patients had HAMD above 7. At the end of the treatment (48th week), 38.8% had HAMD above 7, and in the 72nd week (24 weeks after the therapy completion) prevalence of depression was decreased to the values lower than at baseline (23.3% vs. 24.3%). No change in prevalence of depression was detected in control group.ConclusionOur results are important because they show the overall course of depressive symptomatology during the interferon therapy. These data also show spontaneously resolution of depression 6 months after the completion of PEG-IFN-α. This study is the longest study in this area.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.